[This story contains major spoilers from Dexter: Resurrection season one, episode nine, “Touched By An Ángel.”]
One other longtime Dexter character lastly is aware of, with out a shadow of a doubt, that Dexter Morgan and the Bay Harbor Butcher are one and the identical. Sadly, that very same character is now not alive to benefit from the bragging rights.
Alas, as of the most recent Dexter: Resurrection episode, it’s an official wrap on David Zayas, who has starred within the Dexter franchise as sharp-dressed detective Angel Batista for the reason that very starting. The one man actually on Dexter’s tail all season lengthy, Angel lastly met his maker within the aptly titled “Touched by an Angel,” wherein the character winds up on the mistaken aspect of Dexter’s killing desk.
But it surely’s not Dexter who kills Angel. Angel’s dying comes about as he seeks an unlikely ally in Leon Prater (Peter Dinklage), the über-rich philanthropist with an obvious connection to Dexter. Angel miscalculates, nevertheless, not realizing Prater is a serial killer obsessive, and needs to bankroll Dexter’s future operations because the Bay Harbor Butcher, with only one catch: Dexter has to kill Angel to get him off the scent. Dexter arrives in a makeshift killing room with Angel strapped to a gurney by Prater and his stooge Charley (Uma Thurman), however as a substitute of plunging the knife into his previous good friend, Dexter releases Angel, considering they could be a part of forces in opposition to Prater on this darkish hour.
However that’s not the way it goes. As an alternative, Angel sees pink, lifts off the desk and tries to choke the life out of Dexter, summoning the ghosts of his previous pals who died due to Dexter’s actions. It’s the proper arrange for Prater to shoot Angel within the again, riddling him with bullets earlier than working away with Charley. Dexter tries to inform a dying Angel that, sure, he is the Bay Harbor Butcher, however he didn’t kill Angel’s ex-wife Maria or ex-partner Doakes. Angel doesn’t care; even when Dexter didn’t wield the homicide weapon in opposition to them, his very nature because the Bay Harbor Butcher is why they died. With one final unflinching take a look at his previous colleague turned ultimate nemesis, Angel utters his dying phrases: “Dexter Morgan… fuck you.”
Beneath, Zayas joins The Hollywood Reporter to interrupt down that lethal ultimate second and to look again on his in depth run enjoying certainly one of Miami’s best for practically two full many years.
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David, what a bummer!
Yeah, nicely, hey. It’s nice TV, isn’t it?
It’s a heck of an ending for a personality you’ve performed for 20 years now, signing off with some iconic ultimate phrases.
That’s it, man. That’s A to Z proper there. As we each know, although, you don’t must be alive to be on this present. There are some characters who’ve by no means been alive on this present! So, I at all times have hope!
A literal angel Batista?
By no means say by no means. (Laughs.) I’m at all times open to new concepts.
Whenever you signed on for Resurrection, do you know you have been going to die?
Sure. Once I first acquired requested to do the present, I knew the entire storyline from the start to the ending. And all I might say was, “Wow. That’s actually good.” It actually places a robust punch right here on the finish.
Through the years, you need to have thought of what it could be like for Angel to lastly find out about Dexter’s secret. How did the truth of enjoying it out match up together with your creativeness?
I at all times thought of that even from season one of many authentic. I at all times thought of what occurs. As a result of they wrote this wonderful character of Angel, who’s acquired a giant coronary heart, who’s an trustworthy cop and who’s flawed, however who takes accountability and is dedicated to his pals. I at all times puzzled: What if he came upon the reality about Dexter Morgan?
Michael C. Corridor as Dexter Morgan with David Zayas as Angel Batista on his kill desk, together with Peter Dinklage as Leon Prater and Uma Thurman as Charley.
Zach Dilgard/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.
It grew to become one thing behind my thoughts, so once they referred to as me for Resurrection, I used to be like, “Okay, this is a chance to deliver some new traits to Angel Batista,” particularly with the knowledge that he has, notably Dexter being the Bay Harbor Butcher, and even being alive. Angel thought his good friend was lifeless for the previous 12 years. That might change anyone in the best way they method sure issues. So there’s an innocence that’s been chipped away. Angel is darker, he’s much less trusting, however he’s nonetheless targeted on eager to do it the suitable means. So it was an attention-grabbing journey, notably being in a metropolis the place I don’t have authority. Angel Batista doesn’t have authority in New York Metropolis, so he’s acquired to attempt to persuade different individuals of this data. That gave me lots to work with.
What did Angel do mistaken right here? Ought to he have referred to as in Quinn (Desmond Harrington) or one other Miami Metro colleague to assist him on the hunt? Is there one thing he might have carried out to keep away from this destiny?
When you bear in mind the tip of Dexter: New Blood, Angel will get the decision saying Dexter continues to be alive, and he sees the image. That’s once I felt Angel was on a mission. He was on a mission to corroborate the proof after which deliver Dexter to justice. I really feel that Angel wouldn’t wish to contain different individuals in his journey. He didn’t know the place it was going to go, and he’s doing it after he’s retired from the police division. He’s not purported to be doing this, however he does it anyway due to his sturdy ethical code. I do know he understands the hazard and worry of this, however he’s previous all that. He’s on a mission to hunt — I by no means name it vengeance — to hunt justice, however he’s going to nonetheless attempt to do it the suitable authorized means. If I had any recommendation for Angel Batista, I most likely would’ve mentioned, “Don’t fear in regards to the authorized means. (Laughs.) Simply work out what you’re going to do!” However that’s not his character. He’s at all times been somebody attempting to do the suitable factor.
If there wasn’t that historical past between them, I feel he’d most likely say, “This isn’t my battle. I don’t wish to get killed.” However there is that historical past and he is aware of deep inside that Dexter was keen on Angel. There was a second within the authentic sequence once I get in hassle, Dexter will get me out of hassle and now we have a espresso and he tells me, “If there’s anyone else I’d wish to be like, it could be you.” I responded, “I don’t know what meaning, however I admire it!” Effectively, now he is aware of what meaning.
Zayas as Angel Batista in Dexter: Resurrection.
Zach Dilgard/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.
Inform me about getting onto the enduring desk.
Effectively, it was very uncomfortable, to begin with. However then there’s this realization for Angel what he’s about to expertise on the hand of somebody who was as soon as his good friend. I feel it could drive most individuals insane. It’s an excessive amount of to absorb. That’s why I reacted the best way I reacted afterwards [choosing to attack Dexter immediately].
It appears like a brief madness virtually.
Yeah. If there’s a knife over you? It modifications your perspective. And he’s not used to this! He was stabbed within the first season, positive, however he wasn’t stabbed by his good friend! It makes a giant distinction. Angel’s by no means been within the kill room, aside from episode eight when he acquired there and it was too late. There’s by no means been a possibility for him to really expertise [the Bay Harbor Butcher side of Dexter]. It’s all new. There’s acquired to be this second when Angel, after getting drugged, wakes up and sees the state of affairs. He sees Dexter, he is aware of who Dexter is and he’s coming at him with a knife. Proper now, Angel should simply be considering: “That is it. That is it for me.” So the second he as a substitute releases me? I’m going to reply in perhaps an illogical means, however a completely comprehensible means.
In your ultimate moments because the character, Angel doesn’t maintain something again. How did it really feel to play that aspect?
I used to be actually having myself deal with Dexter. Batista’s there, realizing he’s about to die. He needs to specific to Dexter what he’s feeling. The anger. He needs to let every little thing go, realizing he’s not going to final lengthy. For me, as Angel, it was about connecting with Dexter in these final moments. The deed is finished. What’s carried out is finished. I would like him to attach with Dexter, a minimum of on the best way out. I’ve at all times maintained the reality and integrity of what I imagine and what I would like. I’ve at all times let who I’m. And I’m letting now who I’m — and that that is who you are. And what? F-you. Despite the fact that it’s a nasty phrase, I discovered it very real.
It felt paternal to me, virtually like a upset dad.
Sure. It was like that. There was lots going via my thoughts at the moment. However, what a solution to go. And once more! You don’t must be alive to be on this present. The door continues to be open for positive. 100%.
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Dexter: Resurrection new episodes launch on Fridays, streaming on Paramount+ for Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers and a linear debut Sundays at 8:00 p.m.
